Sometimes while searching for song title on Spotify, a very remarkable thing happens: you find a great song with the same title as the one you were originally looking for. While searching for “Like a Stone” by Audioslave, an amazing, haunting, beautiful song, I found “Like a Stone” by a band I had never heard of before, Mapache. I’m so glad I did because they’ve quickly become my new favorite indie band.

Mapache’s “Like a Stone” manages to be heartfelt and upbeat at once, and pulled on my heartstrings. It reminds the listener of what it’s like to fall hard and fast for someone, like a stone.

Their sound is reminiscent of vintage folky rock tunes and evoke the sounds and images of sun soaked California. As aptly noted in an interview with the band on newcommute.net,

“The music of Mapache is raw and refreshing with the clean resonator guitar accenting your harmonies”

The guitar work is indeed crisp and rich. The Mapache melodies are catchy and sweet, and go along perfectly with members’ Clay Finch and Sam Blasucci dreamy harmonies.

Born and raised in Glendale, the duo met through a mutual friend in high school and bonded at a skate park, over playing their guitars and singing together. Of course I have even more of a soft spot in my heart for Mapache, knowing they are California boys, being a valley girl. I was born and raised in LA as many of you know by now, and have been influenced by the same landscape and points of interest as Clay and and Sam.

I also of course love the fact that their band name means raccoon in Spanish. Although raccoons are cuter in cartoons and illustrations, I like them as long as they stay away, and Mapache is such a fun word, as many Spanish words are. It’s also a nod to the Mexican heritage that’s informed their sound, a piece of their sonic puzzle.

On their influences, Mapache mentions, “We both have a deep love for the southern California landscape, culturally and musically and geographically. We love the sounds of the San Francisco scene, the Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and the Bakersfield scene, and all of the southern California stuff- Byrds, Beachwood Sparks, CSNY. Growing up here there was also a ton of amazing Mexican music that has influenced us a lot. Sam lived in Mexico for a few years as well. ” in newcommute.net.

On their band camp page, their bio notes”… Their breathtaking harmonies and heartfelt yet heady sound, was honed by surfing the beaches and exploring the deserts and canyons of their native California.” It’s clear that experience, travel, and life itself is the best school for playing good music.